Construction in December 2010 on construction of 601 in Adelphi Centre of the army laboratory in Maryland has a thermal solar roof, a renewable energy project that will save money and conserve natural resources. The cover system is expected annually save more than 170 million of British thermal units, which equals approximately 30 barrels of crude oil - a cost savings of $3,500 at current oil prices.
Heating of air by the light of the Sun
"Unlike a typical system photovoltaic, that converts sunlight into electricity, a solar roof thermal uses solar energy to heat the air", said Steve Rebetsky, Lac direction of public works, mechanical engineer, who is managing the construction project. The roof construction is based on standard methods with a few modifications.
A standing seam metal roof dark color is built through the existing cover, but a flexible radiant barrier is installed under the support structure, creating a space where it is heated air by the Sun at approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit above the temperature of the air environment.
A system of control and agitators fans then pumping air to different mechanical systems and the interior spaces of the building. Heated air is used within the building to reduce the burden of heating required.
Solar hot air that is used to heat water for domestic use and for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems
During the winter, the system of preheating of fresh, outside air that is used to maintain a proper building ventilation. Solar heated air is used to heat water for domestic use and for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
Also directly heat the main mechanical room and boiler combustion air, which results in increase of efficiency of the boiler. During the summer, when the Sun is most intense, radiant barrier avoid that more than 90 percent of the heat entering the building, and at the same time, since the heating requirements are the lowest exhaust excess heat into the atmosphere.
The ceiling 601 is one of the first such solar thermal projects roofing will be built for an office building in United States, according to the director of the project with American Solar Inc., the system installation company.
"With the successful completion of this project we hope to advance in the use of renewable resources and, in addition to the solar thermal roofs trim, expand to other renewable energy projects that use photovoltaic heating, solar water and sunlight," said Ken Noppenberger, ALC director of public works. "This will help to not only continue to comply with the objectives of the Department of Defense of the energy, but also to save electricity, natural gas, oil, etc"
